Nutritious Navajo Blue Corn Mush Recipe

Ever wondered about making Navajo food that tastes amazing? I wanted to introduce some traditional Navajo blue corn mush with which I have become familiar. Its perfect for happy hour with family or an afternoon get-together. 

A simple dish called Navajo blue corn mush can be made with roasted blue corn, juniper ash, and water. It tastes slightly better than Malt-O-Meal or Cream of Wheat, yet is identical in texture.

If you want a thinner mush, add one more cup of water. I prefer a thicker mush. You can still prepare this dish if you dont have juniper ash. Even if the mush is more of a grayish tint, it is still mouthwatering.

Now, let me walk you through the recipe for making this Navajo Blue Corn Mush. You will find a list of all the essential ingredients and equipment needed to make Navajo Blue Corn Mush.

What Equipment Will You Need To Make Navajo Blue Corn Mush? 

• Sauce Pan – We will need a saucepan to boil juniper ash and blue corn.
• Spatula –  We will need a flat-surfaced spatula to mix all the ingredients and remove all the lumps.
• Medium-Sized Cup – We will need a medium size cup to prepare the mixture for Navajo blue corn mush.
• Bowl – We will need a bowl for stirring the blue corn mushy mixture.

How Much Time Will You Need To Make Navajo Blue Corn Mush?

What Ingredients Will You Need To Make Navajo Blue Corn Mush?

• Roasted Blue Corn – We need roasted blue corn for the blue corn mush as it adds taste and contains significant minerals and calcium.
• Juniper Ash – This difficult-to-find ingredient gives the Navajo blue corn mush a unique flavor, turns it into a rich blue color, and increases the number of nutrients.
• Honey – Honey adds a unique flavor and delicate floral sweetness to the dish.
• Butter – Butter has a soft, creamy texture and a rich flavor with just a hint of sweetness.
• Salt – Salt is an essential seasoning that should not be overlooked in any recipe. 
• Cold Water – We need water to make a thick paste and hence will need cold water for it.
• Toppings – We will need toppings to make it more delicious. You can top your corn mush with fruits and chia seeds.

Steps To Make Navajo Blue Corn Mush

1. Prepare The Ashy Mixture

Start with boiling your Juniper ash. Add 2 cups of water and juniper ash to a medium saucepan and bring it to a boil. After you have boiled the ash, mix the blue cornmeal thoroughly with a cup of water in a medium-sized cup.

Turn the heat down of the saucepan to medium-low and gradually swirl the blue corn mixture into the boiling water.

To remove any lumps, mix the blue corn mush continuously for 3 minutes. This will add consistency to your meal. Continue to boil for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add more cold water or blue mush if the consistency is too thick or watery for your taste. Keep stirring and tasting until no more grainy corn is present, 

2. Make It Mushy And Sweet

Remove the saucepan from the heat. To add some richness and flavor to your colorful corn mush, add salt, butter, and honey to it.

To make it more delicious, top it with your favorite toppings like chia seeds and chopped fruits. You can also add nuts or seeds to suit your preferences.

Nutritional Information 

How Will Navajo Blue Corn Mush Look And Taste Like? 

If you have never had blue corn mush, think of oatmeal and cream of wheat, which have a neutral flavor that is neither sweet nor bitter.

After adding salt, butter, and honey, it will taste sweet and buttery in flavor. It has a grayish tint because of the added juniper ash.

Juniper ash gives blue corn mush, known as Tanaashigiizh in Navajo, a significant amount of minerals and calcium. Thus, it is a nutritious meal choice.

Recipe Card

Navajo Blue Corn Mush Recipe

Navajo blue corn mush, or Tanaashgiizh, is high in nutrients and calcium due to the addition of juniper ash. As a result, it is a healthy food option.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 54 kcal

• ½ cup Roasted Blue Corn Flour
• 1 teaspoon Juniper Ash
• 2 teaspoons Honey
• 100 g Butter
• 2 cups Cold Water
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• Toppings (Chia Seeds, Fruits)

• Boil 2 cups of water and juniper ash in a medium saucepan.

• Mix the blue cornmeal thoroughly with 1 cup of water in a medium-sized cup.

• Turn the heat of the saucepan down to medium-low and gradually swirl the blue corn mixture into the boiling water.

• To remove any lumps, mix the blue corn mush continuously for 3 minutes. Continue to boil it for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring now and then.

• Add more cold water or blue mush if the consistency is too thick or watery for your taste.

• Until no more grainy corn is present, keep stirring and tasting.

• Add salt, butter, and honey as per your taste to make it more delicious.

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.7g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 0.2g

Keyword corn mush, Navajo blue corn mush

Conclusion

If you have never had blue corn mush, think of oatmeal and cream of wheat, which have a neutral flavor that is neither sweet nor bitter.

After adding salt, butter, and honey, it will taste sweet and buttery in flavor. It has a grayish tint because of the added juniper ash.

Juniper ash gives blue corn mush, known as Tanaashigiizh in Navajo, a significant amount of minerals and calcium. Thus, it is a nutritious meal choice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)